Flush attachment-plug receptacle.



C. D. PLATT. PLUSH ATTACHMENT PLUG REGEPTAGLE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT.14, 1910.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

CLARENCE D. PLATT, OF BRIIGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

FLUSH ATTACHMENT-PLUG RECEPTACLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

Application lcd October 14, 1910. Serial No. 587,072. i

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CLARENCE D. PLATT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, haveinvented an Improvement 1 in Flush Attachment-Plug Receptacles, of

whichthe following is a specification. y

This invention relates to flush attachment plug receptacles and has forits general object to simplify and cheapen their construction and togreatly improve their mode of operation in use. l

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a receptacle inwhich ythe number of parts and screws will be reduced to the minimuniand the parts shall all be simple and inexpensive to produce.

A, further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle which canbe easily and quickly installed and wiredfor use without removing orseparating any of the parts, it being of course understoodthat the coverplates are wholly independent of the 'receptacles and are shipped inseparate packages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle which isadapted for use with either a reversible or polarity plug.

A further object of the invention is to provide a convertible plug whichmay be changed from a reversible to a polarity plug by simply changingone of the contact bars.

A further object of the'invention is to provide a receptacle having itsterminals thoroughly protected and insulated and in which the insulatingcenter block shall beretained in the base by means of the terminalsonly, thus' eliminating screws and nuts and doing away with adjustmentof the terminals.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certainconstructions and in certain parts .improvements and combinations whichwill be hereinafter described and then specifically pointed out in theclaims hereunto appended. f

In the accompanylng drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure1 is an elevation of my novel receptacle with the plug in engagementtherewith, the top plate and plug being partly removed and the centerblock being partly in section; Fig. 2 a partial longitudinal section onthe line 2-2 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a transverse section on the line 3 3' inFig. l; Fig. 4 an elevation partly in section, corresponding with Fig.2, of a reversible plug; Fig. 4a a perspective of a polarity plug; Fig.5 a perspective of the center block detached; Fig. 6 a perspective ofthe base detached; and Fig. 7 is a' perspective of one of the terminalsdetached. 10 denotes the wall boX or easing and 11` the cover platewhich is attached thereto in the usual or in any preferred manner.

My novel receptacle comprises a base 12 and center block 13 both made ofinsulating material. The base is provided with an opening 14 which `mayor may not extend through the bottom thereof and which receives thecenter block. By omitting the usual bottom in the base I make the baseso much shallower and adapt it to be used in very thin walls, or wherethe base is mounted in a boX, as shown in the drawing, considerably moreroom is left in the box for the wires. blockv is 'provided witha/circular rib 15 which rests upon a shoulder 16 in opening 14. tened onopposite sides below the rib, the opening in the base'being shaped toreceive it, the attened portions terminating in ribs 15.

17 denotes the terminals as a whole, which l areseated in sockets 18 inthe sides of the center block'and extend outward from the centralopening in longitudinal channels 19 in the base. Each terminal comprisescontact plates 20 riveted to a plate 21 provided with an extension 22which lies in aplane substantially at right angles to plate 21, restsupon shoulder 16 and under the rib on the center block, extends outwardin the 'corresponding channel and carries a bind ing screw 23. Theterminals and the center block are secured to the base by screws 24which extend upward through the base and engage extension 22. In thisconnection it will be noted that the terminals 17 project over the ribs15 of the center block 13 and thus lock the latter in place. T0disconnect said block it is first necessary to remove the The upper endot' the center I have shown the center block as flatscrews 24 whereuponthe parts may be separated. There is one screw only for each terminal,no other screws being required as the terminals themselves retain thecenter block in place.

25 denotes the line wires which are connected to the binding screws inthe terminals. The center block is provided with openings 26 and 27which extend downward into sockets 18 in alinement with contactplates.20. These openings are adapted to receive Contact bars upon theplug. One of the openings, opening 27 in the present instance` is madewider than the companion opening for a purpose presently to be eX-plained. l

28 denotes the plug which is made of insulating material and is providedwith a central hole 29 to receive wires 30 and a recess 31 in its underside which receives plates 32 carrying binding screws 33 and from whichthe contact bars extend. Plates j 32 and the contact bars are secured inplace either Contact bar 35 or 36. Should a reversible plug be required,the plug is provided with two contact bars 35, as in Fig. 4, whichpermit the plug to be engaged with the receptacle either way. Should apolarity plug be required, however, the plug is provided with a contactbar 35 and a contact bar 36, as in Fig. 4a. When this form of plug isused the plug can be engaged with the receptacle in one way only ascontact bar 36 will not enter opening 26, and the plug mustbe turned toplace contact bar 36 in alinement with opening 27 before the plug can beplaced in engagement with the terminals of the receptacle.

Electrical connection is made by simply passing the contactbars on theplug through the openings in the center block and into lengagement withthe terminals therein.

center block in said opening, terminals socketed in the center block andscrews engaging the terminals whereby the terminals and center block aresecured to the base.

2. A receptacle of the character described comprising a base providedwith an opening having a shoulder and channels leading from the opening,a center block having a rib resting on the shoulder, sockets, and

.openings leading into the sockets, terminals in the sockets havingextensions lying in the channels and binding screws, and screwsefngaging the terminals, for the purpose set Orth.

3. A receptacle of the character described comprising a base having anopening, a center block in said opening having sockets and openingsleading into the sockets, one of said openings being longer than theother, terminals in the sockets and screws engaging the terminals, forthe purpose set forth.

4. The combination with a receptacle comprising a base having anopening, a center block in said opening having sockets and openingsleading into the sockets, and terminals secured to the base and havingprojecting contact ends lying in the sockets, and engaging the centerblock to retain the same in position. i

5. The combination with a receptacle comprising a base having anopening, a center block in said opening and having sockets and openingsleading into the sockets, one of said openings being longer than theother, and terminals secured to the base and having projecting contactends lying in the sockets and engaging the center block to retain thesame in position.

6. The combination with a receptacle coinvprising a base having anope'ning with a shoulder therein and channels leading from the opening,a center block in said opening having a rib engaging the shoulder,sockets, and openings leading into the sockets and terminals secured tothe base and having projecting contact ends lying in the sockets andhaving extensions lying in the channels and provided with bindingscrews, said contact ends engaging said center block to retain the samein position.

7. A convertible plug having a central opening for wires and a recess inits under side, and plates secured in said recess and provided withbinding screws and contact bars of different widths, for the purpose setforth.

8. A receptacle of the character described comprising an insulating basehaving an opening and channels leading therefrom, a center block in saidopening and terminals socketed in the center block and having extensionslying in the channels and provided with binding screws, said terminalslocking the center block in position, the terminals and extensions beinginsulated by the base and center block.

9. A receptacle of the character described comprising a base with anopening through it, a center block filling said opening and terminalssocketed in the block, said terminals retaining said center block inposition.

10. A vreceptacle of the character described comprising a base having anopening through it and provided with a shoulder and channels, a centerblock extending through the opening and resting on the shoulder, socketsin said block and openings leading into the sockets, and terminals inthe sockets having extensions lying in the channels, said terminalsretaining the center y/block in position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CLARENCE D. PLATT.

Witnesses:

A. M. lVoosTER, S. W. ATHERTON.-

